Michael Mina coming to Seattle

Seattle definitely has a place on the map when it comes to eating.  Ethan Stowell, Tom Douglas, Chef in the Hat (Thierry Rautureau) run culinary empires around here.  Add Michael Mina to the list next Spring.

Bringing the Burgundy, France-inspired magic from his San Francisco enterprise RN74, Mina is planning to set up Seattle’s RN74 shop at the corner of 4^th & Pike in downtown Seattle. 

It’s an interesting location for Mina.  The space is in the Joshua Green Building, a historical landmark that is being restored from the inside out.  While the restaurant alone is a big draw (Michael Mina’s food is a must-try for me), I’m also interested to see that “out” part.  The corner of 4^th & Pike isn’t the fanciest of downtown Seattle locations.  Witness: Businesses in the vicinity have closed up these locations (RIP: Sharper Image & Ben Bridge), and the bus stop outside of RN74’s promised location is constantly packed with interesting patrons headed on the Metro routes to Capitol Hill.  Fast forward to nighttime – dinner time – and the crowd just gets more colorful. 

That said, with just a short walk to Westlake Center, Pike Place Market – straddling the city’s financial district and retail core, there is a lot of promise for this corner.

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photo courtesy of  Joshua Green Building

future site of RN74

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Back to inside …

 

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photos courtesy of  michael mina

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Mina is expected to import much of the menu and the Euro-rail styling (check out the fabulous railway time tables in the top photo above, and in detail below!) from his San Francisco location, with the requisite local twist.  The wine list will offer a selection of wines from Washington and Oregon, but will stay true to its namesake, the winegrowing area on Burgundy’s Route Nationale 74, which is said to be home to some of the greatest vineyards in the world. 

As for the food, his San Francisco menu could certainly be infused with Pacific Northwest fare.  Perhaps the cheese selection might give some credit to Washington’s fledgling artisan cheese industry and feature creamery goodness from the Washington State Cheesemakers Association, or perhaps beef from sea breeze farm or  Baron Farms will show up on the menu. 

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hello railway time tables!  GENIUS.

photo courtesy of michael mina

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Whatever appears on the plate is sure to be good.  Mina’s accolades are long and impressive.   Mark your calendars for March 2011.  Cannot wait to try & taste what Mina has in store for Seattle!

Farmer’s Markets

One of the things I love the very most (trust me, you can verify this with my bearded man) is a farmers market.  And Seattle has amazing farmers markets.  From the amazing and iconic – and gigantic – year round “farmers market” at Pike Place Market to the quaint summer-only Saturday markets, its hard to visit any of the city’s neighborhoods in the summer time and not run smack into a white tent filled with locally-sourced produce, big bouquets of flowers and hand-churned ice cream*.

 

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fresh fruits & veggies at the Casade Farmer’s Market

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And how lucky am I considering myself that there is one – literally – right outside my front door.  The Cascade Farmers Market teed up its season in late June, and a bit over a month in, the market is sporting an amazing selection of cupcakes, berries, the prettiest $5 bunches of flowers that money can buy and make-your-own-ice-cream-sandwiches.  Yes, you read that correctly.  MAKE YOUR OWN.  I may or may not have yelped audibly when I saw the truck.  Top all that goodness and yumminess off with live music, live entertainment and a handful of Seattle’s most colorful vendors.  Thursdays through the rest of this summer are going to be fabulous.

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Image courtesy of The Southlake.com

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Are you a farmers market fanatic?  Do you have one in your neighborhood?

*Other than the flowers and the ice cream sandwiches, the tip top of my favorites list at Cascade Farmer’s Market is Whidbey Island Ice Cream.  They have the best, slightly icy yet so creamy, peanut butter ice cream I’ve ever had.  Seriously.